JETHRO Goko, the director of the Associated Newspaper of Zimbabwe (ANZ), publishers of the Daily News, has said they are hopeful that in the next few weeks there won’t be any excuse for not opening up the print media space completely in Zimbabwe, reports Violet Gonda for SW Radio Africa.
Goko told SW Radio Africa on Tuesday: “Lot’s of work is currently going on behind the scenes and we are ready to bring the print product onto the streets in Zimbabwe. What we are waiting for is just the licence disk to be displayed on our windscreen.”
The country’s only privately owned daily newspaper was forced to shut down seven years ago. The Daily News is now hoping for an operating licence from the new licensing authority - the Zimbabwe Media Commission.
Goko said a new look Daily News will have heavy weights on the team and at least 78 staff members, including journalists on the payroll.
Last month, the masthead of The Zimbabwe Times website, edited by veteran journalist Geoff Nyarota, was replaced by that of the Daily News. A statement on the site said; “Finishing touches are currently being put to a brand new and exciting The Daily News domain. It has been created in anticipation of the much anticipated relaxation of the current media landscape, which is a key and necessary precursor to any meaningful democratic transition in Zimbabwe.”
The government is being criticized for delaying the implementation of media reforms as the inclusive government has been in ‘operation’ for over a year and yet there is still no privately owned daily newspaper registered in Zimbabwe and no licenses have been issued for the independent electronic media.
The newly appointed ZMC only started operating in March 2010, after a delay of over a year in appointing the Commission.
No comments:
Post a Comment